Dakota Beacon

While Grand Forks city leaders and so-called “stakeholders” are moving to fast-track the controversial FuFeng “corn milling” plant on the doorstep of the Grand Forks Air Force Base, it is interesting to note the economic climate in which they are proceeding.

My daughter, who sold cars for several years and maintains her interest in the industry, tells me that new cars are becoming hard to come by.  Why?  No computer chips.  There is a big delay because of a shortage or unavailability of the computer chips used in cars.  And, of course, the better used cars were blown up - literally - by Obama’s ill-advised and anti-consumer “Cash for Clunkers” program.  So the car business is in a tough situation.

But it’s not just cars, of course.  Our entire technology-based economy and society require a flow of supplies of these high-tech components.  Taiwan is a huge supplier of these elements, so it is of very great interest to Americans to be paying attention to the events which affect Taiwan and its industry.  Our deteriorating relations with the Chinese government would be such a concern.

China has openly expressed not only contempt but direct threats to the United States in the past few days.  Despite copious benefits bestowed upon that adversarial nation for what we must assume are personal reasons (what others could there be?) by the Biden family and administration, China is attempting to humiliate the U.S government, piggy-backing on our disgraceful exit from Afghanistan and subsequent embarrassment in Ukraine.  Is any of this humiliation of the Biden administration deliberately invited?  One would have to believe that it is.  War with China would be entirely avoidable and, should it occur, would be devastating.  Last night Tucker Carlson took a look at the imminent threat of China.

Enter the Grand Forks City Council.  According to Bret Weber, Councilman for Ward 3, we would be in pretty bad shape if our national security rested with the city government of Grand Forks.  For once I would have to agree with Mr. Weber.  Mr. Weber communicated this to me last week and because it seems to reflect the thinking of the entire City Council, at least so far as their public statements would indicate, I will share his message:  

We have met with the FBI.  We have discussed this with the commander at the GFAFB.  We have discussed this through various channels between our City, Bismarck, and Washington DC.

At this point, we have no substantiated reason to believe that the Fufeng project is a national security issue.  However, I understand that--due to the noise being generated by various political operatives (including Mr. Kennedy), opportunists, or simply well-meaning but poorly informed individuals--many people have been led to believe that this is a national security issue.

Please consider that, IF the security of our nation is dependent upon the decision of seven city council members and a Mayor from a small city then we are in far more trouble than this single project could possibly create.

We are waiting for a judgment from the federal officials who investigate these sorts of concerns.  IF there are any legitimate national security concerns, please rest assured that we will not move forward.

So there you have it.  The hubris of over-weaning self-confidence, unconcerned with the reservations of those whose lives will be impacted in their self-assurance and, let’s face it - arrogance.  Never mind that those whom they have consulted, such as the commander of the air base, are not authorized to conduct or pass on questions of national security.  Never mind that many experts are telling us that it is highly risky to place a high-tech Chinese facility within a stone’s throw of the very hub of our nation’s military intelligence operations.  It’s all “noise”, after all, generated by the press.  Sensationalism.  Until it’s not, of course.  Until perhaps we find ourselves in a war with China.  Until maybe China invades Taiwan or other allies.

There must be some powerful, undisclosed interest at work for these seven council members, the mayor and a handful of paid bureaucrats at city hall, to persist in this path.  The public has pointed out many concerns, actually bringing usual adversaries together to oppose this plant.  Those worried about our national security are joined by those who believe the environment will be harmed (well, they’re not wrong - look at China’s environment, where on a clear day . . . wait, there is no clear day) and they are joined by those who have invested privately (the only proper way) in local businesses and homes.  There are countless reasons to oppose this, very real ones.  Perhaps the most compelling is the existential threat of China's government (which IS FuFeng, sponsored by the CCP’s “unrestricted warfare” - the Belt and Road Initiative), but there is no reason against all of this to support it.  Yet the Council and the Mayor persist.  Why?  They ran for office to represent the people - or so they told us.  

The people showed a strong opposition to this in that they presented the Council with a petition calling for a referendum on the issue.  The Council disposed of it in the circular file.  In that event, it seems appropriate that these seven all-powerful council members and the accomplice Mayor Bochenski, should be prepared to accept full responsibility for this project (if they are unlucky enough that it is allowed by the federal government to proceed), personally and individually, for any losses incurred by this.  

This kind of project is referred to as “capitalism”.  It is not capitalism.  If it were, the city of Grand Forks’ government would not be involved.  It is the opposite of capitalism - it is crony capitalism, a form of socialism which undermines capitalism and free enterprise.  The many local businesses, all contributing to the economic and societal well-being of the community, are the product of capitalism and free enterprise.  They are not government-greased, slick operations.  The root cause of this whole problem is that we have come to accept this phony form of economic “growth” as normal.  Government should not be picking favorites or sponsoring a business.  The government should be a consumer, like the rest of us - buy their paper and ink from a private vendor, contract with a local private builder to maintain or build as needed, pay for transportation or other goods and services through the private economy, taking bids to encourage fair practices.  The FuFeng project is none of these and it is not a capitalist free enterprise business.  It is government-sponsored both by the CCP and by the local potentates in their function as the Grand Forks City Government.

It is time for North Dakota to protect our citizens, our local business and our military bases from this through legislation ending foreign entities’ investment and development in the state.  Many states have laws prohibiting exactly the kind of project proposed by FuFeng/GF City Council.  Obviously North Dakota needs this.

I have communicated concerns with the members of the Council.  I cited Tucker Carlson’s discussion from last evening.  Here is my message to them:

Months ago people in the community were expressing deep concern about going into business with a CCP-sponsored Belt and Road project here considering the possibility of strained relations with China. No one really thought it would get this intense, of course, but it should be quite clear that anyone remaining in favor of this project is either blind, stupid or possibly not as loyal to the US as motivated by some other interests. Tucker Carlson had some interesting "noise" to share. 

Dana Sande, City Council President, deigned to answer me thusly:

Thanks for the email,

Perhaps those who are blind, stupid, or possibly not as loyal are those who worship Tucker Carlson?

All the best,

Dana

Dana Sande sits on the City Council to represent the people of Grand Forks.  He is one of a long succession of City Council members who have believed that private enterprise is not the road to prosperity.  His condescending attitude brooks no debate or argument.  Any who raise concerns are dismissed out of hand.  

The next days and weeks will be interesting, to say the least.

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